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Interactive Redistricting Reform Forum
Senate and Assembly Democrats Use Social Media to Change Albany
(Albany, NY) Answering the public’s clear and consistent call for action on redistricting reform, Senator Martin Dilan, Ranking Democrat on LATFOR*, Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries and Senator Michael Gianaris, joined by Senate and Assembly Democrats convened the first-ever interactive public forum on redistricting reform. Despite overwhelming support to end the political gerrymandering of electoral lines through non-partisan redistricting, Senate Republicans have refused to allow an open public hearing on Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Redistricting Reform Act of 2011. Using new media and social networking tools to drive unprecedented public participation, Senate and Assembly Democrats brought together the public, good government advocates and academic experts at a live forum broadcast over the Internet via Twitter, LiveStream and Facebook. Senator Martin Dilan (D-Brooklyn) ranking member of Legislative Task Force on Demographic Research and Reapportionment said, “Today's forum is a continuation of the Senate Democrats' efforts to make the upcoming redistricting process more transparent. I am committed to a redistricting process that is fair, open, participatory and worthy of good government goals and public demand. Anything else will be unacceptable.” Senator Michael Gianaris (D-Queens), said “During the election season, candidates of both parties tripped over each other to declare themselves reformers. Now it is time to discover who is a genuine Hero of Reform and who was just spouting empty campaign rhetoric. New Yorkers are tired of politicians who say one thing to get elected and do another after taking office. It’s time for pledges made to become promises kept.” Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries (D-Brooklyn) said, “The redistricting process is broken and the most appropriate remedy must involve participation by the people of New York State. That is why this forum is essential.” Senate Democratic Leader John L. Sampson said, “To take the politics out of drawing electoral lines and fundamentally change Albany, we need independent redistricting. A fair and independent process means better and more competitive elections decided by the people, not politicians. By passing Governor Cuomo’s non-partisan redistricting legislation we can build a more responsive and accountable state government that meets the needs of the people.”

Deputy Democratic Leader Neil D. Breslin said, “For too long Albany has put politicians and power over the needs of the people. This year we have an opportunity to change that by establishing an independent redistricting commission and finally putting elections in the hands of voters – where they always should have been. Senate Democrats have heard voters’ cries loud and clear: they want a system that is fair and independent, and representatives who work for the people’s interests, not their own. Now it’s time for the rest of Albany to listen and give New Yorkers what they want.” Senator Liz Krueger (D-Manhattan) said, “Recent polls have confirmed what my Democratic Senate colleagues have been saying all along, the people of New York want fair, independent redistricting, and we must stop at nothing short of delivering that to them. Despite the Senate Republicans repeated efforts to ignore New Yorkers' basic demands, I am proud that my Democratic colleagues have fought to keep this issue alive. We must put an end the destructive cycle of gerrymandering districts and give New Yorkers the type of democracy they deserve, one in which they chose their elected officials, and not the other way around.” Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D-35th District/WF/I) said, “This interactive forum is a great opportunity for New Yorkers to air their opinions about independent redistricting to their legislators in real time," said Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins. “We cannot allow this issue to fall by the wayside because our constituents deserve fair representation in government that reflects their interests and not those of a political party. Fifty three of my colleagues and I made this promise last fall and it is time to finally follow through.” Senator Daniel Squadron (D-Brooklyn/Manhattan) said, “Legislative districts must be drawn around the interests of communities, not around the interests of incumbents. 54 out of 62 Senators signed the New York Uprising pledge in support of redistricting reform, but there are less than seven session days left to get this done. Today's forum allows New Yorkers to participate in this conversation, hold their representatives accountable, and make sure that redistricting reform does not die in a back room.” Senator Gustavo Rivera (D-Bronx) said, “Voters should choose their elected officials, not the other way around. That is why it is so important to establish a real independent redistricting commission, one that would do away with the shady backroom deals that have become so representative of what is wrong with Albany. I will continue to work alongside my colleagues in the Senate and with Governor Cuomo to ensure that New York form an independent redistricting commission that represents all New Yorkers and that the appointments reflect the diversity of our state.” Senator Adriano Espaillat (D-Manhattan/Bronx) said: “Voters should choose their elected officials, not the other way around. It is simply unacceptable to push independent redistricting off for the next decade, as it will mean another 10 years that New Yorkers are forced to participate in elections where the outcome is weighted in favor of incumbents and certain political parties. We must have an open public debate on establishing independent redistricting and take a vote on this critical issue as quickly as possible.”

Senator Tony Avella (D-Bayside) said, “This interactive forum gives voters an opportunity to work directly with legislators in the effort to clean up Albany. People from all corners of the State know that independent redistricting will create competitive elections, which results in better representatives and a government that actually works for the people. Elected officials from both sides of the aisle have pledged to bring reform to the Capitol – so let’s keep our promise and get New York back on the right track.”
*The Legislative Task Force on Demographic Research and Reapportionment (LATFOR) was established by Chapter 45 of the New York State Laws of 1978 to research and study the techniques and methodologies to be used by the U.S. Commerce Departments' bureau of the Census in carrying out the decennial federal census.

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